Diet and Exercise Time!

[kyteaura]

We had a family dinner on father's day--mom and a lot of relatives came for it. The next day mom calls me and spends 20 minutes, in this sad tone, of how much she worries about me since I've gotten fatter and how I don't exercise, which is bad for my heart. She sounded so worried and was near tears. I wasn't a healthy baby so she is scared that I'd

Comments

[collectonian]

Wow, talk about mom guilt trip :-( Though its good that you're exercising more and trying to eat healthier :-) If you're hungry, though, make sure you're getting enough calories. Oatmeal is said to help with hungry because of the fiber. If you don't like it, though, there are high fiber cereals you can eat (even Fruit Loops :-), and of course fruit and veggies make good snacks. Low fat popcorn is an awesome snack too. Good fiber, and almost no fat or calories. Are you following any particular kind of diet plan?

If the annual includes what they often call a "well woman" exam, then yep, it will have a breast exam. Generally, you lay on the exam bed and the doctor will do the breast exam, where they basically feel all over both breasts while you have your arms raised, to check for any lumps. They will push on your lower stomach a bit (I think to check for swelling). Then they will have you put your feet in some stirrups at the end of the bed, and do the pelvic exam, which is a two part process. http://women.webmd.com/guide/pelvic-examination has a good description (and if you Google a bit you can find some illustrations of the speculum). If you've never had one, it might cause you a little discomfort (but not really pain) and may cause a little spotting. If I remember correctly, you're at the age to start getting those done annually, so I suspect it will include all that. The doctor will also ask you about sexual activities and what not, and depending on the doctor, may talk to you about any general health issues and concerns, advise on weight, etc.

If they didn't ask when you set the appointment, you can call back to request one, though I think usually they give you a female one by default. I'm an odd one and prefer male docs for it :-P

[kyteaura]

Seriously! She generally just calls, say hi, tell us to get a job or go to school, or mention something and then hang up, so yeah...that was different =X

I'm trying to avoid anything that might be too tempting like popcorn but I need more fiber, got it! Fruit Loops are kind of too sweet for me. I've been eating cheerios when I get hungry, which from the box doesn't seem to be much fiber in it. I've got to go back to the store and look around.

Mostly the fruits are for juicing, which uncle says its bad because we are suppose to be eating the fruit, but one step at a time, okay? -pats his head too-

No idea if its a ''well woman'' exam, but dammit, why did they set the appointment for a week in advance! More time to worry! Wouldn't the pelvic exam more for OBGYN?

Yeah, I might walk back to the doctor's office later and double check if the doctor I'm going to is going to be female. I feel so sexist for saying that...

[collectonian]

If its a family doctor, they often will do them too :-) Before I moved to Texas, I got all of my annual exams done at my general doctor's office. Week in advance is actually pretty good...my doctor's office I have to usually set it a month in advance. :D

Juicing the fruit is fine, since you still get all the nutrients, the main draw back is that it isn't as filling. Multi-grain Cheerios have more fiber, if I remember correctly, than the rest (I was surprised too at how little it had). Do you like shredded wheat? Frosted mini-wheats are good for fiber and I love the brown sugar ones. I usually keep some string cheese, dried fruits, and yogurt on hand. Salsa is also an AWESOME snack as it has like almost no calories, just find a healthier chip to eat with them or, if you like them, Wheat Thins. :-)

[kyteaura]

Hm...not sure if its family doctor or general...whats the difference?

Salsa -drools- I love salsa! But those bad boys are expensive in a jar. Got to learn how to make it myself. Or you can ship some to me -bateyelashes-

I'm trying to avoid sugar or too much sugar so maybe just shredded wheats would do. Its more for snack when I have craving then it is for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast.

Its actually not that hard for me to give up foods I generally eat--I mean mostly because I'm totally in love with Subway sandwiches XD And I've never been a BIG fan of chips, sweets, and stuff. I mostly eat it because its THERE. The downside is not eating the food my dad brings home (steak, prime rib, really fatty, oily stuff) because I hate when things goes to waste (so I eat it all before it goes bad). Its one of the thing my mom yelled at me to stop doing too XD

I've been trying to eat slower, but its hard for me. Its one of the things I have a problem with because I would eat everything so fast. Yesterday it took me 10 whole minutes to eat a 6 inch sub sandwich and that drove me crazy not to just shove it all in my mouth in one sitting. It helps if I take a bite, walk away from it for a few minutes, and come back for a bite or something.

How does WW work? Do you have to go to a meeting or is there a way to join and do this all on your own?

[collectonian]

Subway rocks, and is generally healthy :-) I buy all my salsa in a jar too...never have learned how to make it, though it is supposed to be pretty easy. I eat ridiculously slow, to the point people complain about it. Especially if I'm alone, it make take me an hour to eat something.

You can do Weight Watchers totally online on your own, that's how I do it. Can't do that whole meeting thing :-) The only only version is $18 a month or so. They use calories, fat, and fiber to assign points to foods. When you get started, they calculate approximately how many points you should eat a day. When you eat, you record it and see how many points you used versus how many you have left. The basic idea is to eat your points worth of food, in whatever combo you want. You shouldn't have too many left over in a day, and want to try not to go over - mostly. You also get a "bank" of weekly points which you can use for a splurge or when you go over a day. You don't want to use all of your weekly points, but it is okay to use some. You can also earn additional points for a week by exercising.

You do a weekly weigh in online, and they have a ton of articles and tools to help you make better food choices (I love the interactive eating out guides that show you which choices are better at restaurants). I've been doing it about a year now and I've lost 13.5 lbs. I'm horrible about exercise. My biggest setbacks are eating at work since I usually have coffee in the morning (with way too much sugar and cream - coffee itself is 0 points) and my traditional Icee at lunch. I do limit some of the worse items, like my beloved Fuddruckers burgers (30 points) to a once a month at most thing :D I started doing it after talking with a coworker of mine who is doing it (and who struggles with the same eating at work issues). elyse is also doing it, but she's lost over 40 lbs (my idol!!)

[kyteaura]

None of my friends are like that. Hell, one friend watches us eat and has to beat us and shoves her face in the food even faster! XD

Actually, I think when I was little I remember feeling accomplished for finishing my food faster than my brother and my cousins. I think I got so use to eating quickly that it pains me to eat slow. HOW DO YOU DO IT???

Meh. Paying for weight watchers? I rather just stick with whatever I'm doing and hope I don't relapse food-wise. Its not like I'm stressing over anything...besides my weight XD The exercise thing is definitely going to be the hard part. Its worst now that its Summer ad its hot. Mom was like ''the main part is the sweating. you have to sweat then you can shower'' ;-; No waaaaaaay!

On my checkup they'll probably weigh me. I'll find out how much I weigh and see how many pounds I can lose in a month or something.

Does Weight Watchers mention stuff about exercising/walking type thing?

[collectonian]

Its just how I've always eaten :-) You'd think I'd have become a fast eater with my brothers around, but eating too fast just makes me feel sick on my stomach.

You can find a lot of the WW info online for free, though I find that paying for it makes me far more inclined to use the tools :-) There is a free site where you can track what you eat that I was using before....SparkPeople. The FitDay site also has some tracking tools. And yep, the checkup will include weighing, blood pressure check, and they may want to draw blood to check cholesterol and thyroid levels. The general guideline is to aim to lose 1-3 lbs a week.

And yep, Weight Watchers has activity trackers and encourages exercising on top of moderating eating. They have articles for finding ways to up exercise and getting started, and keeping going. :-) They also look at the emotional reasons we overeat and offer tips and info on combating them.

[kyteaura]

And, no, I'm not really following any particular diet. Just eating less of everything but veggies and fruits XD Giving up on snacks, not eating rice or pasta because its kind of empty in my stomach and I usually shove my face in bowls and bowls of it, which stretches my stomach and continues to make me hungry. No pizza, cheese, etc.

[collectonian]

Have you looked at doing something like Weight Watchers? I tried for a long time to lose weight by "dieting" and giving up favorite foods, and found it just didn't work in the long run because I'd eventually "fall of the wagon", feel guilty, then eat worse. WW has worked so far for me because it doesn't ban you from eating anything you want. It helps you make healthier choices, learn portion control, realize the "net" value of food (low calories, low fat, and high fiber = good), and realize that a burger now and then is fine (just not every day). :-) I still eat pizza, pasta, cheese, etc (love love love love cheese), even chocolate. Just in better moderation and with more self control. I usually don't eat half a pizza, for example, just two slices - or I eat a Lean Cuisine pizza (they are pretty yummy). I also cook more at home so I can control what goes in. Whole grain pasta is high in fiber and more filling, so I'll use it in some traditional pasta recipes I love - still tastes good, but more filling and healthier over all. It also helps to eat slower to allow time for your body to transmit its "I'm full" signal.